Yeah it was once two single family dwellings. I believe the style is called a split foyer. Each dwelling has a 1200 square foot "apartment" upstairs, and two smaller ones downstairs joined by a "common area". The doors are still installed as if it were still a single family dwelling but have double deadbolts on them. There's a LOT of those in Hawaii especially Maui. The landlord is a pretty well known guy here...retired firefighter from an established family. I'm not sure if the legality of the dwelling is a fight I want to take on.

On a side-note....he sent me a letter detailing about $1,000.00 in repairs he said I needed to make. The "repairs" were the condition of the unit when I moved in. Basically he needed repairs done and decided to have an inspection so he could make a punch list of things. In the same letter he advised me that my rent would increase by $200 in about two weeks from the date of the letter. Along with my rent payment, I included the Hawaii Housing Authority handbook and highlighted the sections detailing the 45 day notice required when changing the terms of the agreement once it becomes month-to-month.

I also highlighted the area that says it's his duty to make an inspection and inventory of the unit prior to me moving in and that we would both need to sign it and retain copies for future reference which never happened.

This letter is what brought on the whole issue with the electricity bill being divided between the units. I've spoken with other tenants and it appears that I was the only one who received a letter saying I owed more than the $150.00 allowed for electricity that's included with my rent.